Petra's Shelf by Petra J

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

petrajlove — 2024-12-22 07:32:14 UTC

This book is the epitome of human creation: not only does it have an incredible narrative voice, tone and style, but it also takes a globally traumatic event and delivers an incredibly raw, uncanny and sublime portrayal of the human condition. It contains such a rich variety of themes and lessons that it cannot be grasped in one go, including, but not limited to: guilt, love, childhood, friendship, war, education, social status, coming of age, gender roles, death, suicide and free will. All this through the story of Liesel, a girl who comes to live with her adoptive parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann at the beginning of World War Two. Hans teaches her how to read and amidst the crisis facing her town she manages to steal a book from the mayor's house which changes her life. Her family also decides to shelter Max, a Jew fleeing Nazi persecution. Together they face all the challenges posed by the war.

This beautiful commentary on human condition in essence is crafted beautifully through a hauntingly memorable narrator, Death itself, and through the story of a girl facing life's most difficult aspects in her suffering town but still trying to learn. The wonderful story of Liesel and Rudy laughing at Hitler's propaganda and stealing apples. The heart-warming story of Hans teaching Liesel to read and write. The achingly beautiful story of Max and the Hubermanns who make captivity feel like a game and the story of a girl whose sole purpose was to read and get lost between the pages of any book that crossed her path.

This already modern classic will always remain in my heart as a book that actually managed to encapsulate everything and even more than that.

If an alien were to come to Earth and demand the best books, I wouldn't hesitate in giving it these

petrajlove — 2024-12-22 07:35:00 UTC

My go-to genre, always searching for unique stories set in unknown time periods

petrajlove — 2024-12-22 07:36:08 UTC

If I assigned a genre to these books I'd be doing them an enormous injustice

petrajlove — 2024-12-22 07:36:47 UTC

Gotten pretty good at predicting these, but there is always one that I can't figure out so I'm continuously hooked

petrajlove — 2024-12-22 07:39:20 UTC

My least-read genre because I search for the science part more than the fiction part, anything that contains an unfounded fictional world is not quality sci-fi in my opinion

petrajlove — 2024-12-22 07:40:25 UTC

Stories about ordinary people, with ordinary lives, but with a twist, books that ground me and give me a secure feeling

petrajlove — 2024-12-22 07:41:16 UTC

A new genre for me, still trying to find the type of writing that suits me, really into uncanny and tense stories

petrajlove — 2024-12-22 07:43:05 UTC

Sometimes you just need that extra sweetness in your life that only a cute romance novel can offer

petrajlove — 2024-12-22 08:04:14 UTC

The classics I consider are classics for a reason (decided to add this section because some genres are kind of extinct now)

petrajlove — 2024-12-22 10:32:24 UTC

I mean any type of holiday or event, meaning any Halloween or Xmas titles (not a huge fan, but I indulge sometimes)

petrajlove — 2024-12-23 08:07:36 UTC

Sometimes we need that extra bit of magic

petrajlove — 2024-12-24 07:45:54 UTC

By far one of the most underrated genres, something between horror and thriller, but without a genre-specific plot

petrajlove — 2024-12-24 07:46:25 UTC

El Túnel por Ernesto Sabato

petrajlove — 2024-12-24 07:51:47 UTC

Esta obra fundamental de la literatura latinoamericana todavía tiene todos los ingredientes de una obra atemporal, muy difícil de entender de verdad. La historia de Juan Pablo Castel y de María Iribarne y de sus 'túneles' me ha dejado boquiabierta varias veces y me ha mostrado la complejidad del espíritu humano y del inconsciente como lente para interpretar la realidad y estoy más que segura que lo hará por mucho tiempo después. La historia es narrada por Castel, desde la cárcel, explicando cómo y por qué ha matado a María. Todo empieza en un salón de pintura, donde María es la única visitante que parece entender de verdad al cuadro de Castel. Así pues, Castel la encuentra y una historia de tormento psicológico comienza para ambos personajes. Una increíble descripción de uno de los temores humanos más básicos: estar solos con nuestros pensamientos frente a un mundo incomprehensible.

One Last Gift Emily Stone

petrajlove — 2024-12-27 06:06:17 UTC

It is truly pitiful to see such a promising author descend into mediocrity in such a lenient genre. It has been a long-standing pet peeve of mine with books: adding too much to a story that demanded so little. I chose this book because the author's previous one, Always in December, really touched me and achieved all that it had set out to perfectly. But this book, oh dear. The clichés started piling up, even though I had not expected it giving its unique premise: a brother's death and the last Christmas treasure hunt he left behind for his sister. I was expecting the well-paced plot that I encountered in her previous novel, but this time some action scenes seemed very rushed while some descriptions carried on for too long and entire significant parts were skipped. I don't think I would have been this bothered if only meaningful ideas were added instead of the oldest clichés in the book: guy with attachment issues, breaks up with girlfriend right before death, shallow romantic subplot, unlikable boss, coworker that seems too good to be true but is ignored the entire book and that one millionaire friend helping a guy running away from his previous life? Too much for me. Seeing as it is a Christmas book, I did not expect top-notch writing, but I expected the quality of her previous book at least. But I do not want this to be a rant about why it's not good, because there are aspects that compensate even if only a little: the well-written intimate scenes, the tangibility of the story and the incredibly perfect bittersweet ending. Overall, if I had not read her previous novel, I would have enjoyed this clichéd story and dismissed it as a simple holiday-themed book.

The Painted Kiss by Elizabeth Hickey

petrajlove — 2024-12-29 17:20:14 UTC

As a new hobby, I've been delving more into art history both through books and as individual research and this book provided a lush and very pleasant insight into one of the most admired paintings of all time. I admit, I may be biased because this book came at just the right moment for me, but this still does not diminish the quality of the writing in any way: highly descriptive, well-researched and effervescent. I chose not to classify this work as a romance novel because it does detail the love story between Gustav and Emilie, but this pales in comparison to the rich and well-rooted historical context and all the assumptions made about their personal lives, essentially bringing it back to the historical fiction genre. On that note, I absolutely love how this focuses on Emilie's life, goals, aspirations and not just on their interactions or even worse more on Gustav by the end of the book (happens more times than you'd think). The only thing I would change is the atemporality of it all, dates are given only for the action that takes place in the present moment (1945), not for the historical parts which enriches the feeling of a trip down memory lane but also creates a bit of a confusion at times. A pleasure to read and my new go-to recommendation for Klimt and immersive historical fiction fans!

Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

petrajlove — 2025-01-19 06:40:44 UTC

I won't even start talking about the story because one needs a moment to appreciate how truly amazing the design of the book is. The cover is executed to such perfection, the strip on the middle perfectly reminds one of old movies, while the title and grainy and scratched aspect enhance that horror silent movie feel. The font is also chosen perfectly and the title of the book on the inside is written in the format of an old studio. The design alone is more than enough for me to like this book!

The premise is rather simple: an unfinished horror movie thought to contain an unfinished spell and its director desperate to complete it. This task falls upon sound engineer Montserrat "Momo" and her crush since forever and failed actor Tristán. The book moves slowly until the actual horror bit triggered by the spell in the movie, but I took that time to absorb all the details about Mexican movie lore and investigate all the references (which were right on-point for other perfectionists reading!). Even so, I expected a bit more horror rather than some half-written tension scenes. Even these 'horror' scenes were schematic and lacked any of the tangibility previously found in Mexican Gothic and the overwhelming sense of terror and despair that plagued the book. The magic itself was not something too detailed and felt like a mishmash from other works. I did not feel much angst while reading this, but again, I took it as a study into Mexican cinematography and Mexico City's urban legends. So, just for that I say it is worth reading, but also a great initiation for horror beginners who are also looking for a bit of romance.

Travesti de Mircea Cărtărescu

petrajlove — 2025-01-25 05:24:51 UTC

Încă un roman psihologic care dezbate concepte fundamentale ale adolescenței și anume sexualitatea și imagine de sine în stilul caracteristic lui Cărtărescu de data aceasta. Niciodată nu am fost înclinată spre aceste meditații asupra tinereții către care autorii moderni par să aibă o înclinație, dar acest roman scurt a reprezentat o explorare unică a temelor mai sus menționate. Naratorul intercalează firul narativ, plin de simbolism și componenta 'magică' cu momente lucide din 'prezent' și secvențe onirice care subliniază fragilitatea identității sexuale ale naratorului care uneori devine greu de urmărit. Însă, un alt aspect notabil este că toată narațiunea îi este adresată însuși naratorului, Victor. Acesta dorește ca prin scris și creație să ajungă la un statut androgin, ajungând la o realitate dublă între sexe. În contextul unei tabere la Budila în 1967, protagonistul experimentează cu esteticul, identitatea specifică fiecărui sex și o încercare de a se afunda în istoria locului care duce înapoi la episoadele sale la care se referă la Lulu, un coleg care este fixația obsesiei lui, care cauzează aceste tulburări și un soi de gelozie recurentă față de perfecțiunea atinsă de acesta, cea de a fi perfect androgin. Adevărată relevație vine atunci când Lulu, după ani de tortură îi arată adevărul existenței sale, cea de a fi fost un copil cu adevărat hermafrodit dar care a fost 'vindecat' și astfel i-a fost știrbit din potențialul la care aspira de la bun început. Intriga s-a dovedit a fi captivantă, iar stilul lui Cărtărescu se mulează perfect pe această dramă a descoperirii traumelor sexuale ascunse și pe acest studiu asupra sexualității răbufnite și a identității.

Sometimes I like delving in an author's in-depth look on a subject, even better if it is peppered with literary devices and fiction

petrajlove — 2025-02-14 05:24:56 UTC

A Room Of One's Own by Virgina Woolf

petrajlove — 2025-02-17 13:48:27 UTC

Virginia Woolf's monologue on the subject of women in literature and the art of creation is a subtle and unflinching dive into collective female mentality and a thorough analysis of a woman's identity through writing, responsibility and accomplishments. The persona Woolf creates for herself during these lectures delved deep into 1930s English society and carefully constructed the argument that a woman, as stated in the title, needs a room of one's own to write. Through the other masks she assumes, including the famous Judith, Shakespeare's equally talented sister, cast out from society, she effectively creates a comprehensive picture of women in history and literature but also calls forward all the women brimming with ingenuity to abolish once and for all the confines of being conscious of one's deemed inferior sex.

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

petrajlove — 2025-03-04 05:23:02 UTC

With effervescent characterisations and rich descriptions and world-building, Saft crafts the modern 'romantasy' standard (although a bit darker than most would end up being). While deeply steeped in Irish folklore, the book does not rely too heavily on this background, shaping it instead into a far more immersive world. Against the backdrop of a land plagued by both the good and the bad of alchemy and a society full of inequality, the people of New Albion host a hunt for the demigods every time they are spotted in the wild causing havoc. The story centres around Margaret, the quasi-abandoned child of a prestigious alchemist mother, and Wes, who arrives at her doorstep to start his alchemist training while her mother was away. As a method to gain back her mother for Margaret and as a method to save his family from the shackles of poverty for Wes, both put aside their religious beliefs to participate in the hunt for the mythical Hala. With real, raw and tangible emotions, the two form a special bond while also staking their lives to strike down a demigod only with the power of hunting gear and whatever alchemy Wes was able to learn on his own. Beautifully woven against intimate stories and a fascinating setting, this book is perfect for slow-burn romance enjoyers and readers looking for unique twists on the fantasy genre.

Once and for all, I want to underline that it is a separate genre, filled with much more intellect than horror and more terror than a thriller

petrajlove — 2025-03-30 14:16:26 UTC

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

petrajlove — 2025-03-30 14:38:59 UTC

I expected this to be a heavy attempt at replicating whatever the author considered worthy of the modern public from Rebecca, Mexican Gothic and Wuthering Heights, but how wrong I was. Now this is the unexpectedly delectable mesh of Rebecca and Mexican Gothic indeed but with so many new angles and themes and a much more magic-centred plot. Wholly delicious and deserves to sit on the adjacent step as Rebecca and Mexican Gothic as it was truly very inspired by both. Nonetheless, it is a showcase of how literature is progressing at its very core: society is now capable of producing, not reproducing intricate stories based on previous works but with added taste, highlighting how skilled the author is in twisting a pre-existing plot to fit her idea, but adding so many more layers to it. Beatriz and Andrés had my heart throughout the entire novel and I thoroughly enjoyed the tone and atmosphere. I was entranced by the author's use of vocabulary to build tension, completely immersed by the unique descriptions, two things which have been hard to come by in many of my previous readings, demonstrating the Gothic-connoisseur-level skill of the author. Wonderful, cannot wait to read more.

Oedipus Rex by Sophocles

petrajlove — 2025-04-12 05:07:06 UTC

One could not describe Oedipus Rex without including the phrase 'mixed feelings'. On the one hand it is a powerful tragedy with a classic moral message which haunts everyone who reads it. On the other hand it is an exhibition of a collection of the worst human traits, masterfully blended in a timeless story. I would go as far as to say that Oedipus was written by a man with an all-encompassing hindsight and a gift for foresight because the impact it still has today clearly indicates a literary genius.

No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre

petrajlove — 2025-04-13 15:55:28 UTC

An ingenious and masterful portrayal of hell and what damnation means for everyone. It makes full use of the dramatic format to add an overall stifling air to the entire story, much like the literal environment of the play itself. For a play in one act, Sartre really plays all his cards right, by weaving a narrative for three characters with such control and skill upon his words that nothing becomes too embellished or skimmed through. By creating a tangible allegory of eternal damnation, the audience suddenly feels more connected to both their beliefs and the innovative perspective that torture is not loneliness, but company. This twist highlights Sartre's deeply philosophical undertone and begs the question of whether the message of the play should be cautionary or ironic. However, on a more humorous note, this short play plays with the stereotype of French theatre and film, where the characters converse endlessly over a seemingly shallow topic, and delivers a similarly at a glance superficial dialogue at times but with a much much more intense conclusion than one would have expected.

Acest Har Necruțător de Emily Thiede

petrajlove — 2025-05-01 06:21:31 UTC

Am început această carte crezând că va fi încă o lectură ușurică, menită să mă distragă de la viața cotidiană. Însă, primele 100 de pagini s-au mișcat cam greu așa că am lăsat-o până când a fost timpul perfect. Când am trecut de introducere nenecesar de lungă s-a simțit ca și când cineva mi-a suflat praf magic în față și chiar am început să pătrund în lumea magică din Saverio. Pornind de la o premisă relativ simplă, autoarea insuflă magie și înțeles fiecărui cuvânt pentru o bună bucată din carte, exceptând acele prime 100 și ceva pagini și câteva secvențe (probabil adăugate după încheierea scrierii). În afară de povestea de dragoste înduioșătoare, cartea pune sub lupă înstrăinarea, izolarea și depravarea afectivă. Finestra, Alessa, aleasă la 13 ani, trebuie să își petreacă timpul până la marele Divorando în Fortezza rupând orice legături afective cu lumea dinafară, atingând numai Fontele său, sursa sa de magie, a cărui putere o va canaliza cu ajutorul atingerii sale supraomenești, dar, în cazul Alessei, atingerea este prea puternică pentru primii săi trei Fonti așa că își petrece cei cinci ani de adolescență fără niciun fel de contact fizic. Când apare Dante, prima persoană care o poate atinge în mult timp, se naște o poveste de dragoste între ei. Fiecare cititor este lăsat să decidă pe cont propriu cât din această iubire provine dintr-o dorință arzătoare de contact fizic și companie și cât își are rădăcinile într-o atracție pură și obiectivă sau dacă acestea două se îmbină inextricabil. O investigație demnă de citit, învăluită într-o poveste fantastică cu o idilă pe plan secundar.

Balamuc la București de Sylvain Audet-Găinar

petrajlove — 2025-06-18 04:44:32 UTC

Această carte a avut ceva foarte românesc în alcătuirea sa. Nu pot să-mi dau seama exact ce, dar probabil a fost tonul semi-ironic, firul narativ sacadat pentru celebrul 'efect dramatic' și personajele stereotipice, dar oarecum atipice în același timp. De asemenea, micile ironii și glume la adresa identității naționale române fac această carte să fie o plăcere ușurică de citit. O intrigă simplă, o moștenire lăsată unui nepot emigrat și multe secrete de familie din era comunismului, fac acest roman o satiră plăcută la adresa misterului, și uneori a romantismului, asociat cu acea perioadă din istoria României. De-abia aștept să aud alte remarci ironice la adresa românilor în volumul doi.

Wings of Starlight by Allison Saft

petrajlove — 2025-06-20 06:30:47 UTC

Let me just say that Saft is the queen of fantasy for being able to so perfectly nail the tone of this story. From the very first page I felt thrown back into a new adventure in the Pixie Hollow series. Watching the movies when they came out as a small girl, I loved the characters and the plot so so much. As chance would have it, this year in January I rewatched all of the movies together with my brother and we were discussing how we wanted a bit of backstory for the Secret of the Wings movie and in February I was announced that this book was hitting the shelves. Coincidence? I think not. The story starts like all Disney Fairy movies, with a legend, and I was immediately sucked into this magical world once more. The decadent descriptions and wonderful love story had me reading this as giddily as my 5-year-old self watching the movies.

Untamed Shore by Silvia Moreno-García

petrajlove — 2025-07-23 05:18:17 UTC

From the very first page I could feel the stifling Baja California heat seeping through the pages and creating the oppressive atmosphere that would carry on in the rest of the book. Through the eyes of Viridiana the world is undoubtedly bleak, but her aspirations make the summer worth living through. Once Ambrose, Daisy and Gregory arrive, Viridiana is swept up in deceit, obsession and restlessness. Somehow, the balance between these three created the perfect mural of the late 70s when the action is taking place. However, the story of the country girl who saves up money to escape to the city is by now well-known and it would be a lie to say I did not expect something of the sort at the end. Nevertheless, the one ting I liked is that it did not end with any sort of cliché about purification, but instead with a lingering feeling of twisted justice, symbolising that a place and a culture can never be truly purified and that they will always retain some haunting memory of past wrongdoings. In short, unique, smart, snarky and haunting. Enjoyed every page and every genre-bending technique of this one-of-a-kind novel.

Șarpele și aripile nopții de Carissa Broadbent

petrajlove — 2025-07-23 06:29:37 UTC

Această lectură a început mai mult ca un studiu personal în imaginea vampirului în literatura modernă de consum. Însă repede s-a transformat într-o lectură cu adevărat plăcută și interesantă. Totuși, uneori brutalitatea, violența și romantismul se simțeau drastic exagerate, în special scenele de introspecție și de luptă intensă, dar așa ceva era de așteptat de la 'o senzație BookTok' (vreau să subliniez faptul că eu nu auzisem de această serie înainte de ultimul târg de carte când pur și simplu răsfoiam cărțile de la editura cu pricina). Însă, m-a surprins plăcut detaliul în care întreg spațiul fictiv este descris. De asemenea, structura indică o premeditare detaliată și profundă asupra faptelor din întreaga serie. M-am lăsat uimită de această viziune radical diferită de cele contemporane asupra vampirilor și am să citesc următoarele volume pentru că personajele au rezonat într-o oarecare măsură cu mine și pentru că vreau să aflu mai multe despre această lume a vampirismului extrem.

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

petrajlove — 2025-07-24 04:18:47 UTC

I have always loved Oscar Wilde, ever since I read his short story, "The Happy Prince" at age 7. However, I have always been reluctant to try his plays, mostly because they usually earned the lavish praise from my English teachers that instantly makes me skeptical about the true value of the books at hand. Thus, I postponed this play the longest and now I sincerely regret doing so. I never should have doubted Wilde for a moment, because all of his writings bear the hallmark of an inherently sensitive nature, sensitive to the human condition and to the contradictions of modern society and many more. This particular work is full of witty remarks about society and the true nature of love, as well as characteristically British humour. Nevertheless, I am a firm believer that to fully 'read' a play one must see it onstage exactly as the author intended, or as close to that as possible, so my quest with this play is not done yet. I enjoyed it so much that upon my next trip to the West End I must see it performed. But for those who do not feel the need for such measures, it is a pleasure to read as is.

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

petrajlove — 2025-07-31 15:07:09 UTC

First of all, I did not sympathise with almost any of the characters except Vera. Julia: definition of no backbone and stupidity no matter how much the author wants to make us pity her. Sana: definition of weak-willed and is seriously blaming legalese all throughout for her blatant ignorance. Riki: over-dramatic sob-story about his low-income background has become a bit clichéd. Those three were a bit too much and Oliver was shady from the very beginning. So please do not blame me for skipping entire pages where the author tried to make us pity these people who are clearly failures any way you look at it. Other than that, Vera makes up for most of the annoyance caused by her suspects by being a charming presence on every page and infusing the entire book with a motherly air. I loved everything about her and sometimes I wish I had a presence like her in my life (albeit under different circumstances rather than being a suspect for a homicide that took place in her teahouse). The premise itself was great, but three out of the five main characters were already insufferable for me, so I was really counting down the pages until the end. So if you think you can tolerate some of the most obnoxious characters in my reading history, go ahead. But Vera is sure to charm you right away, I have no doubts about that. The ending itself is worth reading the whole book for because despite all the mediocrity in characters, the plot itself twists into a satisfying knot at the end.

Pericolul de a fuma în pat de Mariana Enriquez

petrajlove — 2025-08-11 12:51:14 UTC

Nu am înțeles pe deplin cuvântul tulburător până nu am închis această carte. Fiecare poveste scurtă m-a bântuit într-un mod aparte și m-a pus pe gânduri din cele mai interesante motive. Și nici nu ai putea spune că se simte acel supranatural tipic pentru autorii sud-americani, ci doar că autoarea și-a găsit cu adevărat vocea și stilul propriu deși utilizează formatul preferat al sud-americanilor, proza scurtă. Abordând teme precum canibalismul, fetișismul, tulburările mentale legate de sexul propriu, disparițiile inexplicabile și aparițiile supranaturale stranii, mă așteptam la o proză experimentală, nu la una care mânuiește cu atât de multă îndemânare stilul și vocea narativă pentru a crea un efect pur fantasmagoric. Ce-i drept, unele povești erau foarte adânc înrădăcinate în realitate și conțineau situații în care oricare dintre noi ar putea fi pus, dar vocea narativă mereu avea câte un truc pregătit ca să te îngrozească sau să te fascineze, linia dintre aceste două concepte fiind blurată până la maxim. Nu știu cine mi-a spus ca Mariana Enriquez este de fapt portugheză, dar acum regret că nu am căutat această informație de bază înainte de a începe pentru că mi-ar fi plăcut să o citesc în original. Vreau să mai aflu mai multe despre universul fascinant (și îngrozitor) al acestei autoare.

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

petrajlove — 2025-08-23 17:19:32 UTC

Where’s the hype? Where are the booktoks praising this book? How come this wasn’t a hit? I demand a few explanations. Even if it is not a masterpiece, it is incredibly good: very dark, angsty, magical and unsettling for a YA novel. Sure, the plot could be a bit more detailed and more organised, but this book is entirely laudable inside its target demographic. The book follows three sisters who disappeared for three months when they were young and returned changed. The eldest, Grey, goes missing again and a journey through memory lane and a fantasy world ensues. I am personally very partial to a very open ending, especially in a case such as this one, a part-fantasy, part-mystery, part-horror novel, but here I felt that it wanted to be a bit more serious than it actually was. Even so, I am absolutely shocked that this book got so little attention upon publication and afterwards too. Definitely a book I will recommend more in the future.

Desene ciudate de Uketsu

petrajlove — 2025-09-06 11:56:07 UTC

Această carte este unică nu prin faptul că are un mister incredibil de bine pus la punct, ci pentru că cititorul chiar se simte ca un detectiv în timp ce o citește. Deși uneori se exagerează puțin cu explicațiile în cuvinte pe baza desenelor, înțeleg de ce autorul le-ar include, ca să nu se piardă în traducere nicio informație crucială cititorului-detectiv. Pe lângă asta, premisa mi s-a părut de-a dreptul amuzantă având în vedere că toată acțiunea se petrece din cauza unui diagnostic. Nu îmi este clar dacă aceasta a vrut să fie o satiră la adresa sistemului de sănătate sau a întregii discipline, dar probabil această neclaritate adaugă și ea la reușita cărții. O lectură scurtă, dar care te prinde și te ademenește să citești mai mult și să înțelegi ce ascund desenele ciudate.

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

petrajlove — 2025-09-06 12:02:05 UTC

I enjoyed this a lot. Probably because I read it on the beach or at the pool. However, I absolutely loved the break from the stereotypical dramatic climax where all secrets are revealed. And from all the drama in general that is associated with American romance books. The entire plot felt natural and smooth and resulted in a very satisfying and wholesome book. Even so, I do get other readers' indignation with Ali Hazelwood's exploration of kink, but I did not feel that the author was overstepping in any way because she created the characters such that the love (and intercourse) between them felt as if it was meant to be that way. If it had been any other author or any other type of character development I would have probably also found it forced and cringy at times, but I enjoyed this experiment. It felt like a true college romance to me, spice, sweetness and kinkiness included.

Stowaways by André Aciman

petrajlove — 2025-12-13 14:34:39 UTC

I read this short novel in one sitting and Aciman has yet again delivered a poignant and profound introspection about love, regret, and the fleeting reality of human connection. The story is essentially a conversation between two people which is sometimes broken up by flashbacks, a style which greatly suits Aciman's character-centred plots and overall nostalgic tone. I felt transported into the scorching Brooklyn summer, sitting side by side with the characters that felt more real than most people I know. And there is something I can never put my finger on about Aciman's stories that gives them a quasi-ethereal quality and that renders them timelessly nostalgic and polaroid-like. Because, after all, that is what he does: within the confines of 100 pages, the author serves us an achingly real snapshot of modern relationships that invites us to step back with more than just a twinge of nostalgia and gently reflect on the unknown impact we have on every person we meet.

The Secret Astronomers by Jessica Walker

petrajlove — 2025-12-13 14:36:58 UTC

The story follows two girls who meet through the pages of an ancient astronomy textbook and we, as readers, are active characters because the book assumes we found it (and the communication within) and are now part of the Secret Astronomers in a way. I really liked the simple narration and innocent plot which tackled themes of race, gender, sexual orientation and disability with great dignity and grace. And the fact that I stumbled upon this novel in my senior year of high school proves that some books arrive at just the right moment to remind you that you're not the only one dreaming of escape, stars and a space (be it the pages of an old astronomy textbook) where you find relief.

The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley

petrajlove — 2025-12-24 14:34:43 UTC

Let me just say I enjoyed every page of this. Slow-burns and enemies-to-lovers are definitely not my usual cup of tea, but for the sake of a dear friend I decided to give this one a go. I genuinely did not expect anything about this book to be this easily likeable. The humorous tone was simply addicting and the story itself was unique and throughly intriguing. The world-building was a bit lacking, but considering that I like worlds that lean more towards magical realism rather than all-out fantasy, I could not possibly make a negative comment about it. The dichotomy of good and evil between them is a bit clichéd in theory, but in practice it turns out to be anything but. I absolutely loved how the characters interacted and how their personalities just fit together like two puzzle pieces. The chemistry was there and could be felt through the pages, which is not something all romance books achieve. As such, I was sucked into this world and tumult of a relationship from the very start and what a pleasant ride it was! In other words, this was undeniably amazing and I cannot wait for the sequel.

I am all for immersive and well-thought-out fantasy, rich in magic and lore!

petrajlove — 2026-01-17 09:05:30 UTC

Fantasy and fondness? Enchantments and endearment? Magic and love? Count me in!

petrajlove — 2026-01-17 09:09:19 UTC

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao

petrajlove — 2026-01-23 05:09:09 UTC

This New Year's I decided I was going to revamp my whole so-to-say aesthetic and change it to the energy I want to attract in the near future. This book is exactly the mood I want to settle into every corner of my life: quiet, magical and mellow. I enjoyed the prose, with all its flaws, more than I would care to otherwise admit because it was a book that felt like a warm yet elusive hug. I was lulled by the smooth transitions from past to present, from real to magical, and the story itself was comforting in a way that is hard to describe. The romance plot line was questionable and amateurish at best, but not upsetting in the least. I'm glad that the world building and overall journey remained center stage at every moment and that each one of the places they visit has its own comforting, tangible magic. The ending feels rushed until you realise the one thing the book is built around. That alone makes it worth it and demonstrates an artful, imperceptible craft. It's just that this book left a fragrance around its pages and in my heart the way only humans touch or a great book can. And a final shout out to the design team who created a unique origami experience that goes so well with the story for all those who read the hardback!

Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood

petrajlove — 2026-03-21 17:21:39 UTC

This book was the exact oxytocin boost I expected from an Ali Hazelwood novel! I enjoyed the setting and cute plot and Hazelwood's exploration of the gaming industry that I enjoy so much but never get the chance to experience behind the scenes. And honestly, this and all of her other books are endless fountains of hope for women like me, half-otakus, half-steminists, that there is someone out there who will love all of us unconditionally exactly for the fact that we don't fit any conventional role. I thoroughly enjoyed this for exactly what it was and it helped me come to peace with the fact that there are phases in life when you just have to read a book for its face-value and not search for any hidden meanings (neither while reading nor while writing the review). So this was a welcome break from the usual books I read (even if they're romantasies, they're loaded with themes, world-building and lore). Overall, I'd say this novella suits everyone's eventual need of a more simple, but altogether extremely lovable and comforting read.

Shanghailanders by Juli Min

petrajlove — 2026-05-24 08:50:10 UTC

In a few, separate and isolated cases, the sheer absence of a plot and the laser focus on characters is what makes a book. This is one of such cases. With no clear, defined goal, Min takes us on a meander backwards through time, centring on the individual and interwoven stories of the members of a rich Shanghai family and the lives they impact unknowingly. Written thus, we are presented with an accurate portrayal of life: what is it, in the very end, but a series of reminiscences taken all together? I enjoyed the Shanghai setting, each vignette revealing a bit more about the nooks and crannies of the city in paralel with those in the characters' minds. This work of literary fiction also came to me after a long period of inability to resume my reading habits and it provided me with a perfectly luscious investigation into our human nature. There is little to say except that I am left wondering about many things, love, success, regret, to name a few.

Inimă Neagră de Silvia Avallone

petrajlove — 2026-06-01 16:08:23 UTC

De obicei am o aversiune față de acest cuvânt care este utilizat prea mult în criticile literare, dar această carte chiar a fost tulburătoare. Silvia Avallone reușește să creeze o poveste înduioșătoare despre o criminală proaspăt ieșită din închisoare (anterior petrecând timp și într-un centru de corecție) și despre drumul său tumultuos către acceptarea de sine și vindecare. Povestită din perspectiva bărbatului care se îndrăgostește de ea, cartea capătă o tangibilitate extraordinară. Psihicul Emiliei este privit dinafară, oglindind o experiență cu care s-ar putea confrunta cititorul însuși, însă acesta nu își pierde natura complexă și, spre surprinderea multor cititori înrăiți de ficțiune polițistă, umană. Această operă trebuie judecată în contextul actual, în care mulți autori își asumă rolul hiperbolic de a reda experiența în prima persoană a unui criminal. Așadar, într-o lume de asemenea încercări (eșuate) de a adânci cititorul în mintea unui infractor, această carte strălucește prin sensibilitatea protagonistului observator. Pe de altă parte, descrierile minuțioase conferă o credibilitate rară și pun întreaga poveste în lume, adică transformă excepția vieții Emiliei și a lui Bruno într-o poveste printre multe altele, nu izolată. Această trăsătură, pe lângă multe altele care nu încap în această recenzie, transformă cartea într-un fenomen literar, într-o revelație a relatărilor despre crimă.